Most people don’t like bugs, some are downright terrified of them. But the truth of the matter is that our beautiful gardens rely on bugs, especially bees. Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and they help our flowers grow and pollinate. Yet, bees are also facing a crisis. Thankfully, we can help bees flourish just by planting the right flowers.
Why should we help the bees?
Flowers, trees, and other plants all rely on bees to transfer their pollen from plant to plant. Once the second plant has been fertilized by the pollen the bees carry, it can then begin to produce fruit and seeds. Without bees, pollination doesn’t occur, and plants cannot produce fruits or seeds.
Unfortunately, bee colonies have dropped by 90 percent since 1962. This has become a worldwide phenomenon brought on by two factors: pesticides and habitat loss. Simply put, human activity is the main reason why bees are dying, but that also means human activity can help restore bee populations. By planting the right flowers in our gardens, we can help support local bee populations and encourage their important role in our ecosystem.
Flowers that attract bees
Choosing the right flowers can be the easiest way to help support our local bee populations. Thankfully, there are plenty of flowers that will attract bees. These include the following:
- Aster
- Lavender
- Alyssum
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Dandelion
- Goldenrod
- Sunflower
- Marigold
- Abelia
Other Things to Help the Bees
Planting the right flowers isn’t the only thing you can do to help the bees. Here are a few more things you can do in your garden toe help the bee population:
- Avoid pesticides
- Use local native plants
- Choose a wide variety of colors
- Plant your flowers in clumps
- Use differently shaped flowers
- Plant a variety of species
- Plant in sunny spots with shelter from the wind
At Dallas House of Flowers, we understand the importance of bees when it comes to growing beautiful flowers. Contact us today to learn more!